Apparatus and Method for Determining the Spatial Position and Velocity Vector of a Spherical Projectile

ABSTRACT

A spherical projectile is detected as it passes through an array of planer light beams and associated detectors. The construction of the Apparatus is such that at least 4 planar light beams are obscured by the passing projectile, two parallel beams in one direction and two parallel beams in a second direction. The apparatus records the time at which each affected light beam is obstructed by the passing projectile, The Apparatus than calculates both the spatial position and the 3 dimensional velocity vector of the projectile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for measuring the trajectory or flight path of a projectile. More specifically, it relates to systems using an array of light beams to determine the position, velocity and trajectory of a sphere or ball, such as a baseball as it passes through the Strike Zone.

Devices for determining the velocity and position of a ball are numerous in the art. These devices are typically used in sports training or sports games including especially baseball and golf. In the game of golf, such devices are often used to determine the flight path of the ball. In the game of baseball, such devices are frequently used to determine ball location or ball speed at the Strike Zone.

The inventions in the art can be grouped into several different categories depending on the technologies used. One method prevalent in the art uses radar systems. Another common method is the use of cameras and associated image processing. Ultrasonic sensors are also used, as are mechanically activated switches.

Another common method in the art, related to the current invention, utilizes light beams or laser beams and light detectors organized in an array. U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,972 uses a light array of crossing light beams to indicate the location of a projectile passing through the array. U.S. Pat. No. 7,944,549 uses an optical screen formed by a single light source and an array of detectors which receive the reflected light from the object in motion. U.S. Pat. No. 7,367,906 uses two light beam arrays. A first array detects horizontal position, a second array located a known distance from the first detects vertical position, and the know distance between arrays is used to calculate the velocity of the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 7,295,329 uses two light sources and light detectors to determine location of a moving object. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,855 uses a light beam array with alternating emitters and detectors and calculates the length of time it takes for the ball to travel through the array as the basis for ball velocity. Ball position is determined by the location of obscured detectors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,985,206 uses two or more light curtains (potentially at the front and back of the strike zone) and measures the time it takes the ball to travel between light curtains to determine the velocity of the ball. U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,008 uses parallel light beams to calculate an instantaneous spatial position of a sphere in order to calculate a horizontal launch angle of a golf ball. This patent calculates the height dimension of the sphere based on information obtained from the light screen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,558 measures velocity using 2 parallel planes at a set distance apart; additionally, 2 groups of sensors arranged in an arc. The velocity of the sphere is not determined directly from the light screen but is calculated from the time it takes to traverse from a first group of sensors to a second group of sensors.

The drive for improvements in the art is due largely to the need for precision and accuracy. For instance, the Strike Zone is defined as the volume of space delimited by vertical planes extending up from the pentagonal boundaries of the Home Plate and limited at the top and bottom by upper and lower horizontal planes passing through the horizontal lines of the definition. In making a determination of Strike or Ball, it is necessary to know with precision, the trajectory of the ball as it progresses through the Strike Zone, since the Strike Zone is defined as a volume and not simply as a surface. Therefore, position of the sphere (ball) is critical, as well as trajectory. Additionally, the characteristics that make a pitch effective include both ball position as well as velocity in the forward, lateral and vertical directions.

The inventions currently available in the art measure components of position and/or components of velocity for a ball/sphere. However, none of them measure the spatial position and the 3 dimensional velocity vector together. Having both the position and full velocity vector allows for an accurate estimation of 3 dimensional trajectory. Additionally, the art does not currently use the information obtainable from a simple 2 axis beam array to obtain spatial position and 3 dimensional velocity vector.

Therefore, it is a primary objective of the current invention to provide more complete information on the position and velocity of a spherical projectile than is currently provided; an improved measuring apparatus that precisely defines both the spatial position of the ball at the Strike Zone and additionally, the complete 3 dimensional velocity vector of the ball at the Strike Zone.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a method for determining the position and velocity of a sphere that is more accurate than current methods. Position and velocity accuracy is very important for an accurate determination of trajectory. An accurate calculation of trajectory is required make an accurate determination of Strike or Ball. Accuracy is also important to coaches and trainers.

It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a method of determining the position and velocity of a sphere that is simple and low cost.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention uses a plane of parallel light beams and light detectors, hereafter referred to as a Light Beam Array (or LBA). FIG. 1 shows an apparatus containing 2 LBAs which both lie in the same plane (both LBAs are located in the same plane for ease of discussion). As the ball moves into the LBAs, the ball obscures certain of the light beams. The light detectors, instrumentation, and computer record the times at which each beam is obscured by the ball. If the light beams are appropriately spaced so that at least 2 adjacent detectors are obscured by the ball, then the a) velocity of the ball, b) center of ball and c) angle of the ball in the plane perpendicular to the obscured light beams, can all be found simultaneously by solving a group of 3 simultaneous equations. By repeating this same methodology for 2 more obscured light beams orthogonal (orthogonality is not required, but will be assumed for ease of discussion) to the first 2 light beams, the same information is found for a second plane. By combining the results from each of the two planes, the total velocity vector can be found (X, Y and Z components). Therefore, the location of the center of the ball (X, and Y spatial position on the LBA plane) and the complete velocity vector (3 dimensional) of the ball are determined at the plane(s) of the LBA.

By knowing both the position of the ball and the velocity vector at known plane(s) relative to the Strike Zone, the movement of the ball through the Strike Zone can be modeled with precision so that an accurate determination of Strike can be made.

The device meets the objectives of providing more complete information, improving the accuracy of position and velocity, the device is simple, uses readily available components and is inexpensive to construct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the projecting and receiving means of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 depicts the major functional elements of a particular embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a sphere showing light beam segments as the sphere passes through the Light Beam Array (LBA).

FIG. 4 shows the geometric elements received by the receiving means, recorded by the instrumentation means and used by the calculating means to determine position and velocity vector.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a particular embodiment of the apparatus used to calculate spatial position and velocity vector.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a projecting and receiving means of the invention for a particular embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a projecting and receiving means of the invention for a particular embodiment of the apparatus.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a view of a spherical projectile 10 as it moves on a trajectory 1 toward a point of interest, in this case Home Plate 11. At the front edge of Home Plate, are located two Light Beam Arrays 5. Each Light Beam Array, hereafter referred to as an LBA, contains a beam projecting means (which emits a plurality of parallel beams of light) and a beam receiving means (which detects the obstruction of the beams of light).

FIG. 1 projecting means 6 is detected by receiving means 8 within the first LBA and projecting means 7 is detected by receiving means 9 within the second LBA.

The beam projecting means contains semiconductor emitters, such as laser diodes, as the light sources which emit a plurality of light beams sufficient in power to be detected by the semiconductor receivers. The beam receiving means comprises semiconductor receivers, such as photo diodes. The ray projecting means and receiving means are spaced at slightly less than the radius of the sphere, so that a minimum of two beams are obscured by the sphere in each LBA 1, 2, 3, 4. All beam projecting elements 6, 7 and beam receiving elements 8, 9 of the LBAs can be contained on a single plane, although this is not a requirement. The distance between beams must be known, but does not have to be constant as long as it remains less than the radius of the sphere.

FIG. 2 shows the major elements of the apparatus for a particular embodiment. The instrumentation means measures the time and the voltage of each receiver element at a high sample rate. These signals are then stored by the instrumentation means in a circular buffer or other type memory management arrangement for processing by the computer means when an event of interest (such as the passing of a ball through the LBA) has taken place. The computing means evaluates and filters the signals for noise and determines the appropriate signal for processing. The computing means then calculates the necessary information as explained below. The distances between all light beams and the sphere diameter are input into the computer prior to calculating.

FIG. 1 shows the convention used for the Cartesian coordinate system used by the Apparatus. Axis Z is perpendicular to the LBA with the positive direction away from the projectile launch point. The XY plane lies on the plane of the LBA light beams in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The X axis is horizontal and the Y axis is vertical. The coordinate system used for calculations is arbitrary as long as it is accommodated in all calculations.

FIG. 3 shows a sphere 10 as it passes through a series of light beams, on a vector V_(XZ) non-perpendicular to the plane of the light beams. The vector V_(XZ) is composed of components V_(X) and V. The light beams 42 shown are parallel to the Y axis, perpendicular to the X axis and perpendicular to the Z axis (43 represents a line parallel to the Z axis). The light beams are obscured by the ball for a period of time which is equal to the chord length of the sphere 10 intersected by the light beam, divided by its velocity V_(XZ). The light beams create imaginary line segments across the ball (line segments B and C). A line drawn through the center point of each line segment 63 (FIG. 4) is perpendicular to the direction of flight in the XZ Plane. FIG. 5 shows the relevant geometry needed to solve the problem.

There are three unknowns needed to determine the velocity vector and position of the sphere (see FIG. 5).

-   -   V_(XZ)≡E Velocity of the Sphere in the XZ Plane     -   θ_(XZ)≡E Angle of Sphere Velocity in the XZ Plane with respect         to the Z Axis     -   x≡Distance from Center of Sphere to First Obstructed Beam on the         Left Side

Definitions:

-   -   d≡Distance Between Light Beams (know parameter of the Apparatus)     -   r≡Radius of Sphere (know parameter of the Sphere)     -   V_(XZ)≡Velocity of the Sphere in the XZ Plane (calculated by         Apparatus)     -   V_(X)≡X component of velocity in the XZ Plane (calculated by         Apparatus)     -   V_(Z)≡Z component of velocity in the XZ Plane (calculated by         Apparatus)     -   θ_(XZ)≡Angle of Sphere Velocity in the XZ Plane with respect to         the Z axis (calculated by Apparatus)

The apparatus measures the following times relative to each other:

-   -   t_(B1): Initial Time of Beam Obstruction along line B     -   t_(B2): Final Time of Beam Obstruction along line B     -   t_(C1): Initial Time of Beam Obstruction along line C     -   t_(C2): Final Time of Beam Obstruction along line C

The Apparatus calculates the following times using Line Segment B initial, t_(B1), and final, t_(B2), obscuration of the ball and Line Segment C initial, t_(C1), and final, t_(C2), obscuration of the ball. t_(B) and t_(C) are time intervals which are half of the total length (time) of their respective line segments:

t _(B)=(t _(B2) −t _(B1))/2

t _(C)=(t _(C2) −t _(C1))/2

t_(D) is the time difference between the midpoint of B and the midpoint of C. The line that runs through the midpoint of Line Segments B and C is perpendicular to the direction of flight in the XZ plane.

t_(D) is shown on FIG. 5 as the sum of t_(D1) and t_(D2), although this depiction is for reference only and not required for calculation. t_(D) is calculated as follows.

t _(D)=(t _(B1) +t _(B))−(t _(C1) +t _(C))

The sign of t_(D) determines the direction of the velocity vector in the X direction of the XZ plane. A sign that is “+” is moving left, “−” is toward the right. A value of 0 for t_(D) indicates the absence of a lateral vector component.

There are 3 independent equations needed to solve for the 3 unknowns. The 3 simultaneous equations are built around 1) Line Segment B, 2) Line Segment C and 3) the midpoint offset between Line Segment B and Line Segment C.

The first equation is written around Line Segment B:

r ² =x ² +V ² t _(b) ²   (Equation 1)

The second equation is written around the Line Segment C where (d cos θ_(XZ)−x) is show as reference 62:

r ²=(d cos θ_(XZ) −x)² +V _(XZ) ² t _(c) ²   (Equation 2)

The third equation is written around the midpoint offset of Segments B and C where d cos θ_(XZ) is shown as reference 61.

(d cos θ_(XZ))² =d ² −V _(XZ) ² t _(d) ²   (Equation 3)

There are now 3 equations (Equations 1, 2, 3) with 3 unknowns (V_(XZ), x, cos θ_(XZ))

The resultant solution for the 3 unknowns is as follows:

V _(XZ)=(−2d ²(t _(b) ² +t _(c) ² −t _(d) ²)+(4r ² t _(d) ²)]+{[2d ²(t _(b) ² +t _(c) ² −t _(d) ²)+(4r ² t _(d) ²)]²−[4((t _(b) ⁴ +t _(c) ⁴ +t _(d) ⁴)−2(t _(b) ² t _(c) ² +t _(b) ² t _(d) ² +t _(c) ² t _(d) ²))(d ⁴−4r ² d ²)]}^(0.5))/2[(t _(b) ⁴ +t _(c) ⁴ +t _(d) ⁴)−2(t _(b) ² t _(c) ² +t _(b) ² t _(d) ² +t _(c) ² t _(d) ²)]

θ_(XZ)=invcos((d ² −V _(XZ) ² t _(d) ²/d ²)^(0.5)

x=(r ² −V _(XZ) ² t _(b) ²)^(0.5)

A similar approach is used to solve for the unknowns of the second LBA. In one case the information obtained is the velocity vector and position of the sphere in the XZ plane. In the orthogonal direction the velocity vector and position are obtained for the YZ plane.

-   -   V_(YZ)≡Velocity of the Sphere in the YZ Plane     -   θ_(YZ)≡Angle of Sphere Velocity in the YZ Plane with respect to         the Z Axis     -   ≡Distance from Center of Sphere to top Obstructed Beam

The solution equations are identical with V_(YZ), θ_(YZ), y replacing V_(XZ), θ_(XZ), x respectively and using new time constants obtained from the second LBA obscured beams receiving and instrumentation means.

By combining both the XZ and YZ velocity vectors, the complete 3 dimensional velocity vector is obtained. Since x and y are known and the location of each obscured beam is known, the X and Y position on the reference coordinate system can be obtain. The Z axis velocity vector component is obtained from the calculation from each plane. This redundant information can be used to improve the accuracy of the calculation.

Additionally, when 3 beams lie within a diameter of the sphere (as is the case if the beams are placed closer together), then additional redundant information is obtained which can be used to further improve the accuracy of the calculations.

Additionally, the calculations do not require orthogonal LBAs. In the case of non-orthogonal LBAs, a simple transformation into the desired frame of reference Cartesian coordinate system is performed.

Additionally, the above discussion applies to any spherical projectile, such as used in golf or tennis or soccer, as long as the spacing between beams allows for at least 2 beams in each direction.

Additionally, any number of LBAs can be used in any number of directions as long as at least 2 LBAs are used and the LBA light beams are not all parallel to one another. There are advantages to using many LBAs, such as improved accuracy as well as disadvantages, including cost.

Additionally, all LBAs can lie on the same plane or each LBA can be on a separate plane or any combination thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, two Light Beam Arrays (LBAs), which both lie on a common plane, are used. This is shown in FIG. 1.

In another particular embodiment, FIG. 6, each LBA lies on a distinct plane. The first LBA 21 contains the all the beam transmitters and receivers in one direction. The second LBA 22 contains all beam transmitters and receivers in the second direction. An advantage to this embodiment is that that an additional velocity computation can be made in the Z direction that can be used to improve accuracy in the Z direction. An advantage or disadvantage of this embodiment is that the distance between the LBAs requires an extrapolation for use in calculating the 3 dimensional position of the sphere. Likewise, the total velocity vector is obtained from 2 unique locations, which could be an advantage or a disadvantage.

In a third particular embodiment, FIG. 7, the LBAs are configured similar to that of the FIG. 1 embodiment; however, 2 LBA sets 32 are utilized, each set containing 2 LBAs. An advantage to this embodiment is that more accuracy can be determined about the trajectory of the ball. The previous embodiments are able to accurately measure spatial position and velocity, but are not able to measure acceleration. The use of 2 LBA sets allows for calculating the change in velocity with respect to time (AV/At) for a determination of 3 dimensional acceleration as well as velocity and spatial position. It also allows for an additional calculation of velocity based on the distance between LBA sets and the time to traverse said distance. It also allow for a more accurate determination of trajectory because the position and velocity are known at 2 different locations. Additionally, a second LBA set placed on an important plane, such as both the front plane of the Strike Zone and the back of the rectangular portion of the Strike Zone tetrahedron provide important information about the precise ball flight characteristics at key points in the trajectory. Of course a disadvantage to this embodiment could be cost.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus and method for determining the spatial position and 3 dimensional velocity vector of a spherical projectile comprising: A means of projecting a plurality of light beam arrays, each array consisting of a plurality of parallel beams of light arranged at known locations and separation distances within a single plane with the separation distance between adjacent beams less than the radius of the sphere, the arrays oriented at a minimum of 2 unique angles; A means of receiving each beam of light from said projecting means and detecting the obstruction of said beams; An instrumentation means of recording the time at which each beam is obstructed; and A means of computing the position and the velocity vector of the projectile using the information obtained from said instrumentation means, the beam location and separation distance from said projecting means and the diameter of the sphere.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein 2 light beam arrays are used and the distance between the plane of the first array and the plane of the second array is zero.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein 2 light beam arrays are used and the distance between the plane of the first array and the plane of the second array is zero and the light beams of the first array and the light beams of the second array are at orthogonal angles to each other.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light beam arrays are used in sets where each set contains two arrays at non-parallel angles, distance between arrays in the same set being zero, distance between sets being non-zero.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of catching the sphere after said sphere passes the projecting means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of aligning the projecting means perpendicular to a primary axis of flight.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of leveling the apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of compensating for the out-of-level condition of the apparatus by performing a coordinate system transformation in the computing means to correct for the out-of-level condition.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of calibrating the apparatus such that the tolerances inherent in the positioning of the LBA projecting and receiving elements are minimized by the calculating means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of a frame that resists damage and supports the projecting and receiving means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of a sound speaker.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of display.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of calculating the trajectory of the sphere.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of communication with an external device used to control apparatus functions.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of communication with an external device used for display.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of programming the apparatus to simulate game play.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of programming the apparatus to simulate pitching against a batter.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a method of displaying results of game play.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means of displaying statistical data.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a method of displaying results of training. 